April 28, 2013

Australia: Not only dengue, but also chikungunya

Queensland Health has been in a battle with the mosquito borne viral disease, dengue fever since November 2012, in which more than 100 people have been stricken with the virus in Cairns.

Outbreaks of dengue have most recently been reported in Innisfail (April 2), Townsville (April 5) and Ingham (April 19).

This has prompted Queensland Health to respond to the dengue fever outbreaks in North Queensland through Dengue Action Response Teams (DART).

They treat or destroy breeding sites, work with residents to control mosquitoes and help curb the spread of the virus and educate the public on prevention.

In addition to the dengue fever issue, Cairns.com.au is reporting two cases of the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya have been confirmed in Cairns.

Tests this week revealed two people who recently returned from Papua New Guinea had contracted chikungunya, which includes symptoms such as fever, prolonged joint and muscle pain, headaches, rash and fatigue, the website reports.

There is currently an outbreak of chikungunya in Papua New Guinea that has affected at least 3000 people.
This has prompted authorities to issue a warning to the public and spray for mosquitoes in the neighborhoods where the two patients live.

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Queensland Health has been in a battle with the mosquito borne viral disease, dengue fever since November 2012, in which more than 100 people have been stricken with the virus in Cairns.

Outbreaks of dengue have most recently been reported in Innisfail (April 2), Townsville (April 5) and Ingham (April 19).

This has prompted Queensland Health to respond to the dengue fever outbreaks in North Queensland through Dengue Action Response Teams (DART).

They treat or destroy breeding sites, work with residents to control mosquitoes and help curb the spread of the virus and educate the public on prevention.

In addition to the dengue fever issue, Cairns.com.au is reporting two cases of the mosquito-borne disease chikungunya have been confirmed in Cairns.

Tests this week revealed two people who recently returned from Papua New Guinea had contracted chikungunya, which includes symptoms such as fever, prolonged joint and muscle pain, headaches, rash and fatigue, the website reports.

There is currently an outbreak of chikungunya in Papua New Guinea that has affected at least 3000 people.
This has prompted authorities to issue a warning to the public and spray for mosquitoes in the neighborhoods where the two patients live.